Well Balanced

Ofosu and Leah answer their most commonly asked question—How do you empty your mind while meditating?—and share the things they do when they're experiencing an active mind during meditation. They also discuss where this idea of emptiness originated, why it isn't always conducive to today's lifestyle, and how to embrace the thoughts that come our way while meditating. You can watch this episode on...

In celebration of World Mental Health Day, Ofosu and Leah talk with Miwa Yasui, PhD, a clinical psychologist and an Associate Professor at the University of Chicago’s Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, about her research into how people’s backgrounds and geographical locations affect their perception and treatment of mental health. She also discusses how we can support other...

You don’t want to put off listening to this episode. Ofosu and Leah talk with Micah Caldwell, a clinical therapist, the Resident Psychology Expert for the award-winning brain training app Elevate ( www.elevateapp.com ), and a self-proclaimed procrastinator. He shares a few theories on why we procrastinate, why it shouldn’t be confused with laziness, and the tips he’s learned from his own struggle...

Even meditation coaches get angry from time to time. Ofosu and Leah work through some things that make them angry with Tara Brach, a psychologist and leading mindfulness meditation teacher. They discuss RAIN, a technique that can help you respond—not react—when you're experiencing strong emotions like anger. More about Tara: Tara Brach is a psychologist, meditation teacher, and the founder of...

Ofosu and Leah talk with sleep specialist and Director of YogaUSC Sara Ivanhoe about how to have a healthier night’s sleep. She shares the impact sleep has on our bodies, the neuroscience behind how sleep works, and learnings from her own struggle with sleep. You can watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/KIL9OR13j8w More about Sara: Sara Ivanhoe is the Director of YogaUSC, the Yoga...

You can watch this episode on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/BU7OCDKJ-YE   As Ofosu and Leah make their debut as YouTubers, they reflect on the vulnerability of sharing images of their lives with friends, neighbors, and the public. They also explore how shaping that image—whether it's how we maintain our homes, what we wear, or what we post on social media—can both help and harm us.  About Ba...

Ofosu and Leah talk with meditator and martial artist Hakim Tafari about how he finds mindfulness outside of meditation—even when he's brushing his teeth. They discuss practical tips for becoming more mindful in situations where it can be difficult, and how mindfulness can feel like seeing life in 4K. More about Hakim: Hakim Tafari is a runner, meditator, martial artist, yogi, and musician. H...

To wrap up National Wellness Month, Leah reflects on the benefits of each week's challenge with Amy Tran, a Ph. D candidate in clinical psychology. They also discuss why these small, everyday behaviors make a big impact on our mental health, and from a neurological perspective, how we can start to effectively incorporate more positive habits into our lives. More about Amy: Amy Tran is a Ph. D...

In continued celebration of National Wellness Month, Ofosu and Leah (and some special guests) want to help you make wellness a priority in your life. So each week in August, they’ll announce a new wellness challenge for you to try with them. This week, Ofosu and Leah talk with Josiah Frazier, also known as "Guy with the Hair" on social media, about his struggles with mental health, the c...

In continued celebration of National Wellness Month, Ofosu and Leah (and some special guests) want to help you make wellness a priority in your life. So each week in August, they’ll announce a new wellness challenge for you to try with them. This week, Ofosu and Leah talk with productivity expert Jessica Holsman about how to set healthy boundaries with your phone and social media. They also discus...

In continued celebration of National Wellness Month, Ofosu and Leah (and some special guests) want to help you make wellness a priority in your life. So each week in August, they’ll announce a new wellness challenge for you to try with them. This week, Ofosu and Leah talk with money expert Danetha Doe about how to set financial priorities and goals with a positive mindset—and without overwhelm. Th...

In celebration of National Wellness Month, Ofosu and Leah (and some special guests) want to help you make wellness a priority in your life. So each week in August, they’ll announce a new wellness challenge for you to try with them. This week, Ofosu and Leah discuss the impact listening to music—and dancing to it—can have on your mood and reveal the first Wellness Month challenge. Tune in next Mond...

Inspired by actress Drew Barrymore's recent video of herself laughing in the rain, Ofosu and Leah talk about the importance of celebrating the little things in life. They also share the science behind why we often underestimate these small moments and don't fully appreciate them until after they have passed. And they discuss practical tips for how to be more present, practice gratitude,...

There are times when all of us—even celebrities—need to set boundaries. In light of Shawn Mendes's recent announcement to postpone his tour to focus on his mental health, Ofosu and Leah talk about the challenges and importance of setting boundaries in their own lives. They also discuss how to recognize when you're not feeling right and share practical tips for how to say no politely to p...

About 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep problems, according to the CDC. But Ofosu and Leah (and a few kids!) have a solution you might remember from childhood: the bedtime story.  Learn the science of how bedtime stories can work to help anyone fall asleep, and hear about the making of Sleep Journeys, Balance's new take on bedtime stories.  More about Sleep Journeys: Sleep Journe...

Ofosu and Leah talk with award-winning medical reporter Sophie Scott about how her experience with burnout led to a habit of daily meditation. She shares the science behind forming healthy habits, like why consistency is more effective than intensity, and how to use habit-forming strategies like pairing and rewarding. More about Sophie: Sophie Scott is an award-winning medical reporter, associate...

Many of us deflect, dismiss, or downplay the compliments we receive, instead of simply accepting the praise. Ofosu and Leah discuss the psychology behind this and share strategies to build our self-esteem. So the next time someone sends kind words our way, we can say thank you, period—and mean it.

In celebration of World Productivity Day, Leah talks with Jessica Holsman, who is an expert in helping people become more productive without sacrificing their health and happiness. Learn practical tips for approaching your days with intention, increasing your overall productivity, and maintaining a healthy balance in your life. More about Leah's Meditation Teacher Training: Find all the detai...

Leah talks to her husband, yoga instructor Paul Teodo, about how moving your body can benefit your mind. Learn how even easy exercises can have a significant effect on your mood and overall well-being. Find out more about Paul and Leah's Meditation Teacher Training at https://www.leahsantacruz.com/mtt  More about Paul: Paul Teodo is a yoga and meditation teacher and musician.  Named the #1 Yo...

Teens’ mental health is declining, with 44% of U.S. high school students now reporting "persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness,” according to the CDC. Determined to help, Ofosu recently co-led a meditation retreat for teenagers. He talks to Leah about his experience and shares what we can all learn from it.

Finances and money management often trigger stress, anxiety, and fear. So to close out Mental Health Awareness Month, Ofosu and Leah address the issue head-on, sharing how money affects their own mental health and discussing tips for how to approach money matters a bit more mindfully. And if, like us, you’re feeling overwhelmed by recent events, we want to remind you of a few past episodes that we...

In continued celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month, former plus-sized fashion model Gina Swire joins Ofosu and Leah to discuss the impact body image has on mental health. They dive into personal struggles they've all had with body image, and Gina shares tools you can use to learn to love the way you look. More about Gina: In addition to helping others learn to love their body, Gina Swi...

Ofosu used to beat himself up for having frequent intrusive thoughts, especially during meditation. He and Leah discuss tools they've learned to treat themselves with kindness when these types of thoughts arise — and how meditation can help. We want to know what you think of our show! Please share your thoughts at https://www.balanceapp.com/survey

In continued celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month, psychologist Todd Kashdan joins Ofosu and Leah to discuss how the people we surround ourselves with affect our mental health — both positively and negatively. About Todd Kashdan A professor of psychology and the director of the Well-Being Laboratory at George Mason University, Todd is a leading expert on the psychology of well-being, curio...

Leah really doesn't like it when people call her "nice." She and Ofosu unpack the hidden cost of being agreeable and discuss ways to support their mental health with more honesty and authenticity. And, as you may know, Leah and Ofosu are also the meditation coaches on Balance, a top-rated meditation and sleep app. In celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Balance team is...